Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-04
coeT on MAKING TOBACCO.

. o
Making hills with hoes. ;............'.....'' ~
Plants for one ucre 5000 ...............-.. oy
Planting and rcpianung. W
First plouehing.. .............'.''''..'.''' ~
First bOelng. .-..''s.'.s'''''s.s "
Second pl0ughlLg ...........'...s.''''''.'" w
second hOeing. ..........-.'..'....''' %
Third plOughing ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ~
Third hOcng or killing up........'..'.''. -
Scraping up ......-..'..'...'...' '.'''-''''' %
W0lming and succoring.. .................. b "
Cutting. hauling, and housing...."..... 10
Wood 20 ilro ~ ~
ttring or CuflNg.. > W
Taxing down and stripping 600 pounds. W
Transportation, drayage. &c.............. W
Commissions for selling 800 pounds at 81 10
per nunGrea mo, ;,,r:ci. CD
ssl %
1t is believed that the above estimate
of cultivating, managing, selling, &c, OF
one-acre of tobacco is rather under than
overt the actual expense, the basis OF cal
culation being 40 cents day for hands,
including rations, and 80 cents day Tor
horses. including food. The net profit
then will be the difference between S64
and $3.50, or $40. Eight hundred
poundsis as much as is made on an aver
age on the best lands for series OF years.
and 81 fully an average price for several
years past. But suppose he use only
one half of the manure allowed IN the
above estimate, his crop will be decreased
in quantity one-fourth, or at least 2OO
pounds. and be of inferior quality, be
will make say 600 pounds worth So, or
$50. and the cost Will be the same, ex-
cept for the half of the manure and the
stripping, hauling, and selling, 2OO
pounds say Sl3 in all. Deduct the SO
from the cost of making-to wit, So4. 9O-
and it leaves &4l.00, or a loss OF SOU
per acre. We believe this has been the
experience OF large majority OF tobacco
growers for the last six years, and many
| have lost even more than that.
IL is clear that thij cannot be afforded,
and that ruin must soon oyertake nearly
| ell persons engaged in making this crop
unless some increase of production OF
enhancement OF price can be obtained,
and there is but one way to do tins
make less and make it on richer laud.
Then, what is to be done? Why, cult
yate less and make more and better to-
/ bacco to the acre. Now this advice has
| been given to the planters frequently,
/ but it has fallen UNDECIDED on their ears
There is but one remedy. They must
organize and act in concert. But shall
be told that this is impracticable, per
haps Utopian. If so, woe unto the
maker of dark tobacco and greater Voc
unto the producer of light tobacco IN a
few years.
Inthese days of cliques, rings, and com
binations, rendered easy by railroads,
telephones, and telegraphs, if the farm
ers cannot combine so as to meet combi'
nation with combination and organiza'
ton with organization then they must
be slaughtered as effectually as would be
a disoroanized mob with no weapons in
their hands by an army OF trained yete-
rams armed and equipped with the most
approved implements OF modern war
fare. But shall be asked how are they
TO organize We have in this State, as
they no doubt have in other States, pc
litical organizations the machinery OF
which is nearly perfect, simple, and
effectual. Each OF them have State SUI
perintendents, county superintendent
captains of hundreds, and captains o.
tens. Let us adopt this form of organi
cation modified to suit our wants. Lee
each county send delegates TO Rich
mond at the time of the annual fair
Let it be the duty of the State superin
tendent to collect and lay before thi
body the necessary statistics of the to
bacco crops probably made during The
year and the quantity on hand and 81
of other crops and then let the conven
ton send ont a printed circular OF adj
vice TO the farmers as TO how much to
bacco, cotton, or peanuts it is best Il
plant. 1t should be the business OF TIN
county superintendent to distribute
these circulars among the captains o
hundreds and captains of tens, who's
duty it should be TO induce all if posi-
BILE to carry out in good faith the pro
gramme laid down for them and Will
/ know that there are some SO ignorant
obstinate, and egotistical as to listen +
no advice, however good, and who woul
refuse to do anything either Tor thei
own good or the good of others, unles
it originated with them, still | feel AZ
sured that enough would take and hon
estly carry out the advice given to effec
great good.
The quantity Of each crop should b
regulated by the horse or OK actually en-
gagged in agriculture, and the quantit
to be planted to the horse or OK regu
lated by the supply on hand and tn
probable demand 1t is clear from IN
, figures given above that tobacco cannc
be made for less than so or Sl2 pc
hundred, TO give even living profit, an
what is true OF tobacco is also true c
cotton. and perhaps of peanuts. We ar
suffering. and have been for years, fror
over-production OF these crops, and i
Virginia and North Carolina from til
, neglect of food crops. Let the Who'll
system be changed and regulated by me
competent to do so.
The State superintendent should con
municate with superintendent OF otht
States for this organization will DO br
little good unless it is co-extensive wit
the States in which these crops al
mainly producedD, 80 that he may !
able to inform us what they viii do an
, what, therefore, will be best for MS TO d.
If 80 much good has been effected by a
! informal agreement among the Tobacco,
growers in Tennessee and Kentuck,
, why will they not be willing to organil
to make the benefits permanent? An
il men can organize for political pu
, poses why can they not organize for 81
ricultural purposes? The latter is "a
more important than the former and h
r material at least as good and as honest
not better, and more upright.
The time has come when somethir
must be done, and that speedily, or Il
planters in North Caroline and Virgin
engaged in making these crops, nearly 8
OF whom are ruined, must give up the
: homes or be content to live in able
poverty. the prey OF speculetors and m
nipulators Of these articles.
Let the influential and intelligel
! farmers of oil the States take hold OF th